Borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental condition in which a person has long-term patterns of unstable or turbulent emotions. These inner experiences often result in impulsive actions and chaotic relationships with other people.

Causes

Cause of BPD is unknown. Genetic, family, and social factors are thought to play roles.

Risk factors include:

• Either real or fear of abandonment in childhood or adolescence
• Disrupted family life
• Poor communication in the family
• Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

BPD tends to occur more often in women. Symptoms may get better after middle age.

Symptoms

People with BPD are often uncertain about who they are. As a result, their interests and values can change rapidly. They also tend to view things in terms of extremes, such as either all good or all bad. Their views of other people can change quickly. A person who is looked up to one day may be looked down on the next day. These suddenly shifting feelings often lead to intense and unstable relationships.

Other symptoms of BPD include:

• Intense fear of being abandoned
• Can't tolerate being alone
• Feelings of emptiness and boredom
• Displays of inappropriate anger
• Impulsiveness, such as with substance use or sexual relationships
• Self-injury, such as wrist cutting or overdosing

Exams and Tests

BPD is diagnosed based on a psychological evaluation. The health care provider will consider how long and how severe the person's symptoms are.

Treatment

Individual talk therapy may successfully treat BPD. Group therapy can sometimes be helpful.

Medicines have less of a role in treating BPD. In some cases, they can improve mood swings and treat depression or other disorders that may occur with this disorder.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Outlook of treatment depends on how severe the condition is and whether the person is willing to accept help. With long-term talk therapy, the person often gradually improves.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

• Depression

  Depression

  Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...

   

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• Drug use

  Drug use

  Substance use is the continued use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs with negative consequences. Th...

   

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• Problems with work, family, and social relationships
• Suicide attempts and actual suicide

  Suicide

  Suicide is the act of taking one's own life on purpose. Suicidal behavior is any action that could cause a person to die, such as taking a drug over...

   

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When to Contact a Medical Professional

See your health care provider if you or someone you know has symptoms of borderline personality disorder. It is especially important to seek help right away if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide.